A True Friend With An Unconditional Love

1 Samuel 18:1-4

The Story
Jonathan's love to David even caused a rift between him and his father, as he repeatedly took David's side against the king.

Saul even tried to kill his own son.

Jonathan loved David to the end.

His love was unconditional.

Lessons
The LORD Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, loves us with an unconditional love.

Nothing is to sever the bond He has with His people.

His love for us is for life.

Remember Jonathan in David's life – He Was A True Friend With An Unconditional Love.

A True Friend With An Uncomplicated Love

1 Samuel 18:1-4

The Story
Jonathan loved David just because he was David.

David was a nobody from nowhere, but Jonathan just loved him.

Jonathan loved David with a pure, perfect, sincere and uncomplicated love.

Lessons
The LORD Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, loves us not because of our merit or our worth.

He sacrificed Himself for our salvation purely because of His grace and His favor.

His love for us is pure, perfect, sincere, and uncomplicated.

Remember Jonathan in David's life – He Was A True Friend With An Uncomplicated Love.

A True Friend Has An Uncommon Love

1 Samuel 18:1-4

The Story
Jonathan removed his princely robe and placed it on David.

Jonathan gave David his sword and bow.

Jonathan gave David his girdle or belt.

Jonathan willingly laid aside the symbols of his position as the crowned prince of Israel and gave them to David.

Jonathan consistently place David ahead of himself.

This was an uncommon love.

It involved selfless, personal and profound sacrifices.

Lessons
The LORD Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, has an uncommon love for His people.

He sacrificed Himself for their salvation.

He sacrificed even His life.

He constantly place them in front of Him.

He makes them into the sons of God.

Remember Jonathan in David's life – He Was A True Friend With An Uncommon Love.

A True Friend In Time Of Need

1 Samuel 18:1-4

The Story
God placed in David's life certain people on whom he could lean on during the hard times of his life. These people helped David through many dark hours in his life.

One of the most precious and profound relationships David enjoyed was the friendship he had with Jonathan, king Saul's son.

Jonathan was placed in David's life at the very time David needed a genuine friend.

And Jonathan proved to be the greatest and dearest friend that David would know in his entire life.

Lessons
God placed in our life certain people on whom we can lean on during the hard times of our life.

The most precious and profound relationship christians enjoyed is the friendship they have with the LORD Jesus Christ, God's own Son.

And the LORD Jesus Christ proved to be our greatest and dearest of friends as we walk our entire life.

Remember Jonathan in David's life – He was a true friend in time of need and he was a true friend indeed.

True Greatness Is Having God in The First Place

1 Samuel 18:5-30

The Story
David presented himself in the right way.

David had his priorities in the right order.

David had a proper perception of his own life.

All these were possible in David's life because of his relationship with the LORD God.

David knew God on a personal level and that made all the difference in his life.

David allowed the LORD God to live through him to make an impact on the world.

Lessons
True greatness in life is due to the right relationship with the LORD God in the first place.

Remember David in the eyes of the LORD God – He knew the LORD God personally and he let the LORD God ruled over him.

True Greatness Is Peceived By The General Public

1 Samuel 18:5-30

The Story
When king Saul looked at David, he saw a young man who was everything he himself was not. He saw how David carried himself and he was jealous. He saw David who was faithful, and clean. He hated David because God was with him. He hated David because David walked with God.

Saul's servants saw how David carried himself and they were impressed with David. They saw God's hand on David's life and they were impressed with him. Even Saul's own children, Jonathan and Michal loved David. There was something about David's life that touched them as well.

The only person in Israel who seemed to be unaware of David's greatness was David himself.

Lessons
True greatness is perceived by the people around us and not by us.

Remember David in the eyes of the public – they were impressed with his greatness.

True Greatness Is Determined By Our Priorities

1 Samuel 18:5-30

The Story
These were not easy days for young David. He had been far from home. He had found instant fame from killing Goliath. He had found a bitter enemy in King Saul.

But David remained faithful in the priorities of his life.

• David knew that king Saul was against him. But he still walked into his room, picked up the harp and played the music. David was faithful in his job.
  
• In his hatred, king Saul tried to kill David many times and David ran away. But David always returned to his post and continued doing his job. David was steadfast in his job.
• David kept on serving the evil king and carried out his job to the best of his ability. David was submissive in his job.

David was determined to be faithful to the king in spite of injuries, troubles, and difficulties.

Lessons
True greatness is determined by how we set our priorities.

Remember David in King Saul's palace – he had made up his mind to be faithful, steadfast, and submissive to the king regardless of what happened in his life.